Ames parking fines to double on ISU football game days

posted by Trent Rice -
Aug 22, 2019

AMES, Iowa -- Football fans going to the Iowa State-Northern Iowa season opener who plan to park illegally in Ames neighborhoods near Jack Trice Stadium should consider themselves warned--parking tickets will be twice as expensive this year.

City of Ames Parking Enforcement Coordinator Sheri Nelson says it became an issue of public safety.

"Some of those streets aren't wide enough for cars to park on both sides and get another car through. If there's an emergency, I couldn't guarantee some of those emergency vehicles could respond down those streets."

Nelson says the increase came after years of neighborhood complaints and concerns about getting emergency vehicles down streets near the stadium.

Starting this year, it will cost those who park illegally $40. She says previous $20 tickets were often cheaper than paying to park in designated lots.